In Session » convention center authorityhttp://blogs.tennessean.com/politics
Tennessee PoliticsMon, 07 Apr 2014 14:51:50 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=3.6Crafton seeks more construction expertise on Convention Center Authorityhttp://blogs.tennessean.com/politics/2010/crafton-seeks-more-construction-expertise-on-convention-center-authority/
http://blogs.tennessean.com/politics/2010/crafton-seeks-more-construction-expertise-on-convention-center-authority/#commentsWed, 10 Feb 2010 20:05:57 +0000Michael Casshttp://blogs.tennessean.com/politics/?p=9444Councilman Eric Crafton said he and other council members plan to ask the Metro Convention Center Authority to add three temporary positions to its board until the $585 million convention center opens so there will be more construction expertise among the voting members.

Crafton said he’ll send a letter to the authority after Tuesday’s council meeting – where he’ll be gathering as many signatures as possible – to ask that the authority add a licensed architect, a licensed civil engineer and someone with general contracting experience on large projects.

“I just want to demonstrate, although I wasn’t for the project, that now that it’s been approved, it’s got to be successful,” he said. “We just can’t afford mistakes.”

Crafton also said he’ll ask the authority to require convention center contractors to use E-Verify in their hiring processes. E-Verify is a federal database that allows employers to check the validity of the Social Security number presented by a job candidate or employee.

Marty Dickens, the authority’s chairman, said the authority has professionals on its staff with expertise in the areas Crafton mentioned. He also said a change in the authority’s makeup would require action by the mayor and Metro Council, which created the body.

Riebeling said he hopes the council will vote on the plan on Tuesday, Jan. 19, after the six weeks of review some council members have asked for. A favorable vote would launch construction of the convention center after 10 years of discussion and planning, while a negative vote would kill Dean’s signature project.

Riebeling spoke at a meeting of the convention center authority this morning. He said he hopes the authority will approve the project on Jan. 7, which would allow Dean’s administration to file council legislation the following day. The council will only vote on the financing legislation once.

Nashville’s new convention center authority – for the downtown convention center that hasn’t been approved yet – apparently will meet Wednesday at 9 a.m. The agenda includes electing officers (don’t be shocked if longtime project supporter Marty Dickens becomes the chairman, president or whatever they decide to call the leader) and hearing updates on several elements of the proposed center and attached hotel.

]]>http://blogs.tennessean.com/politics/2009/metro-convention-center-authority-to-start-work-this-week/feed/1Giving the “abstain” button a workouthttp://blogs.tennessean.com/politics/2009/giving-the-abstain-button-a-workout/
http://blogs.tennessean.com/politics/2009/giving-the-abstain-button-a-workout/#commentsWed, 07 Oct 2009 18:51:19 +0000Michael Casshttp://blogs.tennessean.com/politics/?p=7318Here’s how the Metro Council voted – or didn’t vote, in many cases – on each of Mayor Karl Dean’s nine appointees to the authority that would build and run a new d0wntown convention center. Vote totals are in order of yes, no and abstained:

Three of the nine appointees will be out of town tonight, so they couldn’t be confirmed by the council until a later date anyway. Some council members also have complained about the resolution Dean’s office filed, which would have had the council vote on all nine appointees as a group.

Lacy said the mayor’s offfice will drop that resolution and file nine new ones, allowing up-or-down votes on each of Dean’s appointees at the council’s Oct. 6 meeting. The authority will oversee construction and operation of the proposed, $635 million Music City Center.

“Since this is the biggest project this administration is going to do, we want to make sure the council is comfortable,” Lacy said.

]]>http://blogs.tennessean.com/politics/2009/council-dean-agree-to-push-back-convention-center-authority-appointments/feed/0Dean names convention center authority membershttp://blogs.tennessean.com/politics/2009/dean-names-convention-center-authority-members/
http://blogs.tennessean.com/politics/2009/dean-names-convention-center-authority-members/#commentsFri, 04 Sep 2009 15:48:04 +0000Michael Casshttp://blogs.tennessean.com/politics/?p=6638Mayor Karl Dean just announced his appointments to the authority Metro recently created to oversee construction and operation of the proposed, $635 million downtown convention center. Subject to a Metro Council vote on Sept. 15, the authority members will be, according to the press release:

C. Mark Arnold, co-owner of tour and transportation provider Gray Line Nashville located on Music Valley Drive, and partner in private equity firm Red Clay Capital Holdings, a private investment firm focused on supporting the long-term development of growth-stage companies, particularly in the Southeast. Prior to acquiring Gray Line, Arnold held positions in investment banking and served as executive director of corporate development for BellSouth Corp.

Marty G. Dickens, former president of AT&T Tennessee, founding board member and lead director of Avenue Bank, chairman of investment banking firm Harpeth Companies, and chairman of the Belmont University Board of Trustees.

Darrell A. Drumwright, senior pastor of The Temple Church. Drumwright received his master of divinity degree at Harvard University, where he was named a Hopkins Shareholder. He is a published researcher and former faculty member of Tennessee State University.

Vonda McDaniel, benefits representative for the United Steel Workers Local 1055. McDaniel has worked since 1998 with community organizations including the Central Labor Council of Nashville and Middle Tennessee.

William (Willie) McDonald, veteran of the banking industry having served over 50 years for Third National Bank, now SunTrust. McDonald is currently a business development officer for CedarStone Bank in Donelson and chairman of the current Convention Center Commission.

Mona Lisa Warren, freelance event coordinator. Warren’s work has included events such as the Country Music Association Awards, Country Music Marathon & ½ Marathon, Nashville July 4th Celebration and Nashville River Stages.

Leo Waters, co-owner of Music City Information Centers Inc., immediate past chair of the Electric Power Board, and former Metro Council member at large. Waters is a member of the Historic Germantown Neighborhood Association and the Urban Residents Association.

Dean has asked Vice Mayor Diane Neighbors, or a Council member designee of her choice, to serve as an ex-officio member of the board to ensure communication between the Authority and the Metro Council.

]]>http://blogs.tennessean.com/politics/2009/dean-names-convention-center-authority-members/feed/7Metro files convention center authority billhttp://blogs.tennessean.com/politics/2009/metro-files-convention-center-authority-bill/
http://blogs.tennessean.com/politics/2009/metro-files-convention-center-authority-bill/#commentsWed, 18 Feb 2009 17:17:35 +0000Michael Casshttp://data.tennessean.com/politics/?p=426Legislation to let Metro Nashville create an authority to run a new convention center has been filed in the General Assembly.

Mayor Karl Dean’s administration says an authority would be able to manage the building, as well as some of the city’s other public entertainment venues, with more flexibility than other arrangements would allow. Some Metro Council members have said they want to be sure they won’t lose all of their authority over big spending for an eventual expansion of the convention center.

Metro Finance Director Rich Riebeling told me this morning that the authority would have to go to the council before issuing bonds to finance an expansion.